Weekend woe after Gala reach Presidents semis

Gala CC senior squad have been enjoying a busy time of it over the past week, with mixed results in three separate competitions.

A trip to Edinburgh to take on third division Drummond Trinity in the ESCA Presidents Trophy quarter-final saw the Meigle Park men cruise into the next round with an eight-wicket win, having bowled out the home side for just 40.

Graeme Ormiston was destroyer in chief with five wickets for just four runs, while fellow spinner Jack Halls picked up three wickets and Robbie Irvine two.

Gala made a slow start in reply, losing two wickets with the score on 10 before Josh Irvine cut loose with a 26, including two sixes and three fours.

On Saturday, the Braw Lads travelled to Kelso in ESCA Division 1 and, thanks to the excellent pitch covers and a quick-drying outfield after the morning’s heavy rain, the sides were able to play a 40-over match after a delayed start.

Gala made early inroads into the home batting, dismissing the experienced Dougie Wilson and Steven Patterson, but Greg Davidson laid the foundation for a competitive 156 with a solid 54, and he found good support down the order from Grindell, Gibson and Roberts.

For Gala Kris Mein, Robbie Irvine and Graeme Ormiston took three wickets each, but after a finger injury to skipper Duncan Millar, Stevie Halls took over the wicket-keeping duties midway through the innings.

Gala also lost early wickets, with the visitors falling well behind the required rate early on. Graeme Ormiston (23) and Stevie Halls (52) battled hard but could not get Gala back into contention and only Dinesh Tharanga with 17 offered any resistance lower down the order as Kelso won by 27 runs.

A much-depleted Gala travelled to Philiphaugh on Sunday morning to take on Selkirk in the Murgitroyd T20 semi-final, with the winners to play the winner of the other semi-final between Kelso and Dumfries, being played at Shedden Park at the same time.

Saturday’s heavy rain meant tricky batting conditions on an unpredictable wicket and Gala took full advantage to dismiss the home side for 63, with Josh and Robbie Irvine sharing five wickets for just 16 runs, and Caitlin Ormiston picking up her first wickets for the 1st XI.

Gala found it no less difficult early on, with Jack Halls content to bat through the innings, but when skipper for the day Josh Irvine got to the crease the mood changed as he slammed 33 not out from just 23 balls to see Gala home.

Gala then awaited Dumfries in the final after the West Premier League side had seen off Kelso, and Gala put in an excellent display in the field, restricting Dumfries to 116-9 with Rory Banks – guesting in place of Jack Halls – taking 2-12 in his four overs.

Gala started fairly positively, reaching 31-1 from seven overs before wickets started to fall and the inexperienced lower order struggled to cope with the pace and guile of the Dumfries attack. Wickets tumbled and the scoring was restricted, the Gala innings ending on 62 with the penultimate ball of their 20 overs.